Emptyland: Sep/Oct 2017

I feel like my Emptyland should be renamed as “lateland” hahaha… Yet again, a really late Emptyland post. It’s already December, but it’s hard to find time to write these posts especially since the post cannot be started until the end of a month, and the end of the month is always the craziest for me at work too.

Here’s the rundown for what the stars represent: [ ☆ = Most negative/Not good at all, ☆☆ = Not that good, but okay ☆☆☆ = Neutral/No opinion/No answer, ☆☆☆☆ = Great, ☆☆☆☆☆ = Most positive/Fantastic! ] I’ll also include my experience with each product, but the detail I go into for each product may vary.

This was a really nice cleanser, and it also lasted me a long time. I’ve been using it since my senior year of college, although during college, I did not use it daily.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Mary Kay Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

This was part of a graduation gift from my friend Arien! This eye makeup remover works really well on most eye makeup, although it doesn’t get off my false eyelash adhesive (and is sometimes tricky with eyeliner). I have to peel that stuff off myself, which is no fun, but at least that means the glue is really sticky. Back to the makeup remover though: it stings if it gets into my eyes, which sometimes happens when I try to remove eyeliner.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Blistex Five Star Lip Protection

Another appearance in Emptyland! I’ve been repurchasing this same lip balm since high school, I believe. Might as well bump it up to 5 stars with this realization… I guess I am brand-loyal sometimes! Check out its first appearance in this Empties post.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes

Crabtree&Evelyn Lily Ultra-moisturizing Hand Therapy

I like this hand cream, but the packaging isn’t my favorite. It’s the perfect size to stick into your purse for travel, but the cap is flimsy and broke after putting it in my purse for only a month. This scent is delightful, and the cream is decently moisturizing but not as creamy as I would have liked.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes, if it’s on sale

Sephora Express Cleansing & Exfoliating Wipes

I did not like the exfoliating side of this wipe, but the smooth side worked just fine for removing the makeup on my face.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes, if it’s on sale

Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

The mild fragrance of these wipes was definitely calming! It was relaxing to use these to remove makeup at the end of the day. I still had to use eye makeup remover separately, and I have yet to find a makeup remover wipe that can remove eyeliner without it smudging everywhere.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Sheet Masks

Leaders Coconut Gel Mask with Broccoli (x4)

So much fun to use!! There’s 3 layers, so you peel off the outside layer, put it on your face, then peel off the layer on the other side. The sheet of this mask is smooth and sticks to the face exceptionally well. It’s my favorite texture out of all the sheet masks I’ve tried! The essence in the packet is also super generous; there’s enough to scrape out and apply to your entire body.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes

A’PIEU Coconut Milk One-Pack

This was a decent sheet mask, but I wasn’t crazy about it.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe (if it’s discounted)

The Face Shop Lily Face Mask

Another nice sheet mask! The scent is very mild, and it’s a pleasure to use.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

The Face Shop Brightening Character Mask

This is a fun mask, and I enjoyed the dog character printed on it. It looked a bit creepy… but it’s all good! I wouldn’t pay the full price for this mask though.

This is essentially the same as the Broccoli one you see above, but with Tomato instead. It’s just as fun to use, but I didn’t buy a big box of them like I did for the Broccoli one.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes

The Saem Natural Skin-fit Mask Sheet: Lemon

The masks from The Saem do not fit my face shape well, even though this series is called “Skin-fit.” Did not notice any brightening, but you probably need to use the masks more often to see an effect.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

The Saem Natural Tea Tree Mask Sheet

I was hoping this sheet mask would help calm irritation from acne, but I didn’t notice any effect. It was pleasant to use though! Maybe you need to use it a few times a week to see the positive effects against acne.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Sur. Medic Pore-less Carbonic-Peel Mask

I didn’t like how sticky this sheet mask was… It also smelled weird to me.

Overall Rating: ☆☆ // Repurchase? No

Tonymoly I’m Real Tomato Mask Sheet

Love these Tonymoly sheet masks!

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes

Tonymoly I’m Real Red Wine Mask Sheet

It does not smell like wine, but that’s probably for the best, right?

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes

Leaders Vita Brightening Renewal Mask

This was a nice mask to use with generous essence in the packet. I wonder if all Leaders sheet masks have so much essence inside…

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Leaders Illuminating Treatment Mask

Didn’t notice any difference from this one and the one above.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Leaders Pore-Scaling Black Aqua

I’m pretty sure I got this as a free sample somewhere, a long time ago. The sheet mask was a weird texture, but it was a generally pleasant experience.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Makeup

Charlotte Ronson Lip Gloss

I’ve had this lip gloss for way too long… Since the beginning of college, I believe. It has lasted a long time, and I love it! The pink is very sheer, and the shine is not too much. It’s a nice natural-looking gloss with a bit of glitter. It doesn’t feel sticky, and doesn’t dry out my skin either.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Skinny Eyebrow

I didn’t like this one that much, but I used it all up. The spoolie it came with had really short awkward bristles and got clogged up with the eyebrow product within the first week. The pencil part of the stick was hard and this made it difficult to apply. I felt like I had to keep using a tissue or cotton swab to fix it.

Overall Rating: ☆☆ // Repurchase? No

Body Care

Tonymoly Panda’s Dream White Hand Cream

I’m not gonna lie… I bought this because of the cute packaging. But the product inside is super-moisturizing and creamy! It smells so nice too. I’m keeping the empty container, washing it, and using it to store trinkets.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Yes

The Body Shop Smoky Poppy Body Butter

This body butter smells so nice, and it’s luxuriously creamy!

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

The Body Shop Moringa Shower Gel

This is a really nice shower gel, and you can use it with a pouf or just with your hands. I loved smelling it, and it didn’t dry out my skin.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Repurchase? Maybe

Sample / Travel Size

Korres Black Pine Night Cream

This night cream was super moisturizing! I don’t think I’d buy it at full price though.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Purchase? No

O Hui Snow Vitamin Ex Brightening Foam

I couldn’t even finish using this… I’m not sure if I got a defective product or if it’s supposed to smell like this, but it smelled disgusting. Like stale crackers and plastic.

Overall Rating: ☆ // Purchase? No

O Hui Snow Vitamin Ex Brightening Cream

A huge contrast from the foam, this cream was lovely! Moisturizing and smelled relaxing. If the foam was defective, then it’s really strange since it came in the same set with these other Ex Brightening items.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Purchase? Maybe

O Hui Snow Vitamin Ex Brightening Serum

This container was so tiny… It only lasted me 2 weeks, and I only used it at night and just a tiny bit each time. I didn’t notice any positive effects from this.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Purchase? Maybe

The Face Shop Mango Seed Facial Butter

I usually love creamy face products, but this felt too heavy on my skin. It was definitely moisturizing though!

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Purchase? No

Tonymoly Floria Whitening Cream

I used to be scared of using whitening products, but I found out from reading K-Beauty blogs that most of the time, “whitening” just means “brightening,” and can be beneficial for fading acne scars, dark spots, etc. I didn’t notice any brightening effects from this, but also only used it for one day (morning and night).

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆ // Purchase? Maybe

Tonymoly The White Tea Brightening Cream

This was a pretty nice cream, although the scent was nothing like white tea. I prefer the Floria cream over this one.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Purchase? No

Tonymoly The Black Tea London Classic Cream

I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between this cream and the one above. I used them two days in a row too.

Overall Rating: ☆☆☆ // Purchase? No

Versace Bright Crystal Absolu

This is a very fresh scent, a mix of floral and fruity. It’s more elegant than fun, and I like it! I have a bajillion fragrance samples and don’t think I’d ever buy a fragrance unless I’m absolutely in love with it (or receive it as a gift).